About Rutland Water

Britain’s largest ichthyosaur found in the UK’s smallest county.

Every drop of water has a history and with more of us using the region’s water every day, it's vital we all understand just how precious this limited resource is and only use what we really need.  


Our reservoirs and water parks are key to how we supply our region with clean drinking water and form part of the 4000 hectares of parkland, woodland and nature reserves we’re proud to look after.  


Rutland Water has the largest surface area of any reservoir in England, and provides drinking water to hundreds of thousands of Anglian Water customers in the East of England.   


The nature reserve, where the ichthyosaur was found, occupies the shoreline and shallow water lagoons along 9 miles of the western end of Rutland Water, covering a total area of 1000 acres. It was created in the 1970s with the construction of the reservoir and is a designated Special Protection Area of international importance for its populations of gadwall and shoveller birds. Managed by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, it is also home to the Anglian Water Bird Watching Centre and Rutland Osprey Project.